Village App Case Study
Village is a mock organization focused on helping people become first-time parents.
The organization needs a tool to help new parents connect with their community, or Village, to support them in their transition of becoming parents.
Project Duration
July 2022 - August 2022
My Role
UX designer designing a client management app from conception to delivery
My Responsibitlities
Conducting interviews, paper and digital wireframing, low and high-fidelity prototyping, conducting usability studies, accounting for accessibility, iterating on designs, determining information architecture, and responsive design
The Problem
Bringing a new life into the world is no easy task. Postpartum depression is often overlooked by many individuals and support is not as accessible, especially in the early days of raising a newborn. Connecting to people for support is essential to keep the family in better mental health.
The Goal
Design an app that will improve access and reduce barriers to finding a village to support parents, and other caregivers, raising a family.
Understanding the User
USER RESEARCH - PERSONAS - PROBLEM STATEMENTS - COMPETITIVE AUDIT - IDEATION
User Research Summary
Using a network of parents, I developed interview questions to get a sense of how folks currently get their information about raising kids. Most interviewers expressed a lack or research backed resources and most information was from word of mouth from family and doctors. The feedback received through this research made it very clear that users would benefit from a tool that could streamline their needs to help with parenting.
Problem Statement
Grace is a first time parent
who needs to find other parent friends
because they don’t know anyone in their new neighborhood.
Ideation
I did a quick ideation exercise to come up with ideas for how to address the gaps identified through research on popular apps. My focus was on building your village and finding local support.
Starting the Design
PAPER & DIGITAL WIREFRAMES - LOW FIDELITY PROTOTYPE - USABILITY STUDIES
Digital Wireframes
After ideating and drafting some paper wireframes, I created the initial designs for the Village app. These designs focused on giving parents tools to connect with their community and build their village of support.
Low-Fidelity Prototype
To prepare for usability testing, I created a low-fidelity prototype that connected the user flow of connecting with a village by location.
Usability Study Findings
Refining the Design
MOCKUPS - HIGH FIDELITY PROTOTYPE - ACCESSIBILITY
Mockups
Based on the insights from the usability studies, I applied design changes like providing better cues and hierarchy to support user flow.
Accessibility Considerations
Responsive Design
INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE - RESPONSIVE DESIGN
Sitemap
With the app designs completed, I started work on designing the responsive website. I used the Village sitemap to guide the organizational structure of each screen’s design to ensure a cohesive and consistent experience across devices.
Going Forward
TAKEAWAYS - NEXT STEPS